Director device with visual display arrangement and methods thereof

Abstract

A director device arrangement for performing a plurality of monitoring functions on data traffic traversing through a network is provided. The director device arrangement includes a power module, a processor module, a set of network ports, a set of switch modules, and at least one monitoring ports. The set of switch modules is configured to include at least a first switch module and a second switch module that interact with one another to perform the plurality of monitoring functions on the data traffic received. The at least one monitoring port is configured to receive at least one of the data traffic traversing through the network, whereas the data traffic is configured to traverse the director device arrangement between the set of network ports irrespective whether power is provided to the circuitry, the processor module, and the set of switch modules of the director device arrangement.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]This application is a continuation application and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to a commonly assigned application entitled “Director Device and Methods Thereof,” by Matityahu et al., Attorney Docket Number NETO-P012, application Ser. No. 11 / 965,668, filed on Dec. 27, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein.CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS[0002]The present invention is related to the following applications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference:[0003]Commonly assigned application entitled “Intelligent Communications Network Tap Port Aggregator,” filed on Mar. 7, 2006 herewith by Matityahu et al. (Attorney Docket Number NETO-P008) and application Ser. No. 11 / 370,487; and[0004]Commonly assigned application entitled “Methods and Arrangement for Utilization Rate Display,” filed on Aug. 7, 2007 herewith by Matityahu et al. (Attorney Docket Number NETO-P010) and application Ser. No. 11 / 835,233.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]in today's business e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a device that can monitor data traffic in a network. It has a power module to power it and a processor module to process the data. It has network ports to receive and output data traffic. It also has switch chips that work together to perform various monitoring functions on the data traffic. The device can receive data traffic from the network and does not need power to function. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a flexible and efficient way to monitor data traffic in a network."

Problems solved by technology

Thus, as the complexity of a network increases, the number of network taps that may be needed to monitor the data traffic that may be flowing through the network may also increase.

However, in a more complex network environment, the number of network taps that may be implemented may either be limited by rack space availability or may require the company to invest in additional real estate to accommodate the complex network tap configuration.

In an example, the task of adding or removing a network tap when a problem arises may be a complicated and tedious task since each network tap may be of different makes and models.

Accordingly, the cost and time-spent associated with creating and maintaining a network of network taps may become quite costly.

Images